Klarus XT11S & XT11GT Instructions - Advanced Features

One of our most popular lights is the Klarus XT11S, and for good reason. Not only is the light an incredible 1100 lumens, with four brightness modes and a side button with memory function, but it is also fully programmable with three user settings.

Now, as useful as all these features are, they can also cause a level of confusion, and the instructions provided can be a little skimpy when considering how beefy this light is. So I hope to answer any general questions about operating the XT11S with this "upgraded user manual" blog post.

Don't forget to take the plastic insert out of the battery compartment of your flashlight before following along with these instructions!

Klarus XT11S Tactical Flashlight Multiple Features

Note that this guide is also compatible with the new Klarus XT11GT, which has identical features but whose "Turbo" brightness setting is a whopping 2000 lumens!

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Note: These instructions assume you are starting out in the "Classic Tactical" aka "Conventional Tactical" user setting. If you are in the "Outdoor" or "Tactical Assault" setting, check "Cycling Through User Settings" in this blog post for instructions on how to change your light's user setting.

First, let's go over the basics. Get your XT11S in front of you. You'll notice there are three buttons or switches - two on the tail end, and one set flush on the side. Let's look at the two on the tail cap first.

Klarus XT11S One-Handed Operation Flashlight


The Dual Tactical Switch/The Mode Switch

Your instructions that came with the light will refer to the operational parts of the tail cap as the Tactical Tail Switch. But the switch is in fact a dual switch, with two buttons. The round center button on your tailcap is the primary switch, and the metal, lever-like switch is the mode switch. The mode switch is the light's most critical self-defense and tactical feature. Press this button to instantly activate the strobe feature, which will always activate at the light's full 1100 lumens. If you press the mode switch for only a second or less, the strobe will turn off as soon as you release the button. And if you hold the mode switch for longer than a second, the strobe will stay active even if you release the mode switch - or if, in a self-defense situation, your finger slips! Press the mode switch again to deactivate the strobe function.


The Primary Switch

Now look at the round button. That's the primary switch. If you gently press the primary switch, you'll instantly activate the light at the "Turbo" brightness setting, with the light's strongest possible brightness of 1100 lumens. The primary switch is touch-dependent when being pressed gently, and if you release the light from this gently-pressed position the light will turn off. If you press the primary switch harder, you should hear a click. Release the button. Your light should stay on without you having to keep the button held down.


Using the Mode Switch to Cycle Through Brightness Modes

Now, with the light turned on, press the mode switch. The light should decrease in brightness. You have just cycled down your brightness level from Turbo mode to High mode. This brightness mode still provides plenty of illumination, but at perhaps a less blinding level. Press the mode switch again to cycle all the way down to the Low mode. At only 10 lumens, this brightness mode is convenient for reading in darkness or, from a tactical standpoint, illuminating something without giving away your location. Press the mode switch again to start the cycle over back at the Turbo setting.

Note how the mode switch only cycles through three of the light's four possible modes, skipping the Medium setting. This is in keeping with Klarus's tactical philosophy - keep the functions of the dual tactical switch neat and simple, and leave more advanced features to the side switch. We'll cover how to access the Medium brightness in a moment, when we talk about the side switch. For now, press the primary switch until it clicks again to turn off the light. Note that the primary switch is meant as a tactical option, and will always activate the light at the Turbo brightness level.


The Side Switch

Now take a look at the side switch I mentioned earlier. All of the more advanced features of your light hinge on the proper use of this small button. But before we get to that, let's talk about some of the more regular features of the side switch.

Press the side switch once to turn on the light. If this is the first time you're using your XT11S, it should activate the light at the "Turbo" brightness mode. If you press the side switch again, the light will cycle down to the "High" brightness mode, just as if you had pressed the mode switch. When the light is on, giving the side switch a single press fulfills much the same function as the mode switch. The big difference is that there will be four brightness modes to cycle through instead of three, as the "Medium" brightness mode will also be available.

Klarus XT11S Tactical Flashlight Multiple Brightness Settings

Press and hold the side switch for one second to turn the light off. The next time you turn the light on using the side switch, you'll note that the light turns on at whatever brightness it was last on. This is the side switch's memory function, and it's pretty neat for giving yourself a lower level of illumination without first causing a bright flash.


Using the Side Switch for Strobe and S.O.S.

Besides having access to all four brightness modes, the side switch can also access the strobe function and the SOS function. Accessing these features is as simple as a quick double-tap. The first double-tap will access the strobe function, making the side switch a useful option in a self-defense scenario.

A second double-tap while in strobe mode will activate the SOS feature. The light will begin blinking "S-O-S" in morse code. If you ever find yourself on a boat with a dead engine in the middle of a lake in an area where you phone has a poor signal, or you find yourself in trouble while camping or in other outdoor activities at altitude, this feature could be a lifesaver!


Locking the Side Switch

When the side switch isn't being used to defend or save your own life, you want to be able to keep the light from turning on while in your pocket or travel bag. This is when the lock feature comes in handy. With the light off, simply hold the side switch down for five seconds, until the light blinks twice. Your side switch is now locked. Check back with us next week when we tell you how to unlock it!

No, I'm kidding, we wouldn't do that. Just give the side switch a quick triple tap and it will be back to full functionality.


Cycling Through User Settings

We've come to an important side of the light's functions - namely, holding down the side switch. This is how we will access the light's three different operating settings. To do this, while the light is off, hold down the side switch forever. Yes, forever. I mean it! Don't let go until I tell you! After five seconds, the light will blink twice and turn off again, indicating that you will lock the side switch if you let go. Ignore it this time, and keep holding the side switch. After ten seconds, the light should begin blinking rapidly. It will almost look like the light is strobing, but at a much lower brightness. Do not let go of the side switch. If you do, you'll have to start over. Now, without releasing the side switch, press the mode switch on the tail cap. If this is the first time you've done this, the light should give two bright blinks, and then go back to blinking rapidly.

Klarus XT11S User Settings Tactical Flashlight

The number of blinks here indicate the operating mode you've engaged. One blink is for the Classic Tactical setting, two blinks is for the Outdoor setting, and three blinks is for the Tactical Assault setting.

Now that you've seen two blinks, you can release the side switch. The light should stop its rapid blinking. The light is now in the Outdoor setting.


The Outdoor Setting

What's different about the Outdoor setting from the Classic Tactical setting? The difference is in the mode switch. Before, hitting the mode switch would immediately engage the light's strobe function. Basically, the mode switch was still an aggressive tactical option. Now, pressing the mode switch should instantly engage the light's lowest brightness setting - perfect for some low-light reading in your tent. You'll also find that pressing the mode switch while the light is on will now cycle through brightness modes in ascending order of brightness, from lower to higher. The mode switch's original touch controls are in place. To repeat them: If you only hold the mode switch for a very short time, less than one second, the light will turn off again once you've released it. If you hold the mode switch for longer than a second, the light will stay on after you've released it. You can still change brightness settings by tapping the mode switch, and turn it off by holding the mode switch for about one second.

The operations of the side switch and primary switch are identical in the Outdoor setting to their operations in the Classic Tactical setting.


The Tactical Assault Setting

Now let's check out your light's final setting. Hold the side switch for ten seconds like before, until the light begins rapidly blinking, and press the mode switch. You should see three blinks, and then a return to rapid blinking. Release the side switch.

Klarus XT11S Tactical Assault Setting Outdoors Setting

You are now in the Tactical Assault setting. In this setting, you'll notice that the mode switch is back to activating the light's strobe function when pressed. Let's look at the primary switch. Press the primary switch until it clicks. As in the other settings, the light will turn on in the Turbo brightness mode. Now press the mode switch. You'll notice that, instead of cycling brightness modes, the light will instantly switch to the strobe function for as long as the strobe function is pressed. This is called Straight 2 Strobe, and is a very useful feature for purely tactical situations, especially when your light is mounted to a weapon and connected to a remote pressure switch.

You'll also notice that, in this mode, the side switch is locked automatically.

To get back to the Classic Tactical setting, hold the side switch for ten seconds until the light is blinking rapidly and press the mode switch. The light should blink one time. Release the side switch.

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And that's it! You are now ready to begin enjoying your Klarus XT11S or XT11GT flashlight! If you have any further questions, why not leave a comment? That way others who might have the same question as you will also see our response. If you'd like to contact us directly though, just shoot us an e-mail at customerservice@flashlightz.com, or you can reach us by phone at 1-888-860-3037.

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